Piemonte
, Italy
Winery Overview
Roberto and Gianni Voerzio, inherited their holdings from their father Gianni, who bottled wines under his own
name until the early 1980s. Today, they make wines separately a few hundred yards apart, with Roberto and his wife
operating six plots of Barolo vines in La Morra.
Roberto’s path to success is based on what are considered to be the lowest yields of fruit in the Barolo zone.
Production is very limited and the winery makes less than 4,000 cases per vintage, which equals less than one
bottle per vine. He’s a modernist to the extent that he fashions his wine away from the traditional tannic Barolo
style, not overly extracted and oaky.
Location of Vineyards
Roberto manages 21 acres of vineyards in La Morra, an area renowned for producing the most approachable, supple
Barolos including six different plots – Sarmassa di Barolo, Pozzo dell’Anunziata, La Serra, Brunate, Cerequio and
Capalot (the oldest, boasting 50 year old vines).
Winemaking Philosophy
From 1988 to 1995, Voerzio utilized a combination of barriques and midsized barrels, a protocol that tacitly integrates
modernity and tradition. Interestingly, Voerzio doesn’t regard this stage as one he’s moved on from; rather, he has
expressed a desire to reinstate this approach but is hesitant to do so for fear of alienating a significant proportion of
modern wine drinkers.
Piemonte
, Italy
Winery Overview
The purity and clarity of the wines produced by the La Marchesa winery are a testament to their philosophy to produce
the best wines their specialized
terroir
can offer. Here, in the southeastern corner of Piemonte, the crisp, refreshing
styles of wine have more to do with those of nearby Liguria than the more robust, earthy wines of classic Piemonte
regions. At La Marchesa, the emphasis is on the work in the vineyards, using as little intervention as possible while
employing sustainable agriculture. The resulting wines are elegant yet refreshing, providing great value for this category.
Location of Vineyards
The estate, located in the most important area of Gavi, covers 190 acres, of which 145 are planted with Cortese,
Chardonnay, Merlot, Barbera and Albarossa vines. A new winery equipped with the latest in modern winemaking
equipment blends perfectly with the architecture of the old villa. The old villa cellar has also been maintained in the
historic home, preserving a history of winemaking tradition. The La Marchesa wines are greatly influenced by two
important elements - clay and limestone soil and the Mediterranean climate, tempered by breezes that pass the
Apennine Mountains.
Winemaking Philosophy
La Marchesa is highly regarded for implementing natural practices in both the vineyard and winery, tending to the
land with bio-organic treatments and minimal intervention. They employ the best blend of tradition and innovation,
close proximity between estate vineyards and the winemaking facilities allows for immediate processing of fruit,
leading to bright style and signature character.
